Deep well chain saw



June 16, 1959 R. SMITH 2,890,858

DEEP WELL CHAIN *SAW June 16, 1959 R. SMITH 2,890,858

K DEEP WELL CHAIN SAW Filed June 18, 1957 y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 /2'9 INVENTOI;7 35 /34- Ramsey mi Va M ATTORNEY,

Jne 16, 1959 R. SMITH 2,890,858

DEEP WELL CHAIN SAW Filed June 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 16, 1959 Y R. SMITH 2,890,853

- DEEP WELL. CHAIN SAW Filed June 18, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENT OR BYy ATTORNEY 5 Unite DEEP WELL CHAIN SAW Ramsey Smith, Austin, Tex. Application June 18, 1957, Serial No. `666;374

4 Claims. (Cl. Z55-1) The present invention relates to deep well chain saws, and particularly to such saws which are controlled from the surface.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a deep well chain saw with which the oil bearing rock strata may have additional flow area formed therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide adeep States Patent i 2,890,858 Patented June 16, 1959 riice Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 5, looking in the direction ofthe arrows, with parts omitted for convenience of illustration.

Figure 13 is a horizontal transverse cross-section taken along the line 13-13 of Figure 2A, loking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several gures, the reference numeral 20 indicates generally a deep well chain saw structure constructed in accordance with the invention.

In secondary oil wells of the type where the oil flows into the well by gravity without gas pressure, the quantity of oil and the speed that it ilows from the rock into the well is controlled by the exposed surface area of the rock. Many efforts have been made to increase the exposed surface area in the rock in the prior art structures, including shooting, explosives, acids, and other methods, and all of these have marked limitations which have prevented their complete acceptance.

The present invention is concerned with a structure 20 which 'will mechanically cut slots radially of the Well into the oil bearing strata so as to greatly increase the surface area of the rock through which the oil may drain to reach the well. The wells in `which the instant invention produces the best results are those which are being of the operator to form vertically elongated slots in the pumped to obtain the oil therefrom.

The deep well chain saw structure 20 is used in an oil well of the type which includes a well casing 2l which terminates at a point somewhat above the lower end of the well.

The deep well chain saw struct-ure 20, referring now to Figure 8, includes an A frame, generally indicated at 22, above the surface of the earth suspended from a cable 23,I

extending to an oil -well derrick (not shown). The A frame Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary Vertical transverse A Figure '5- is an enlarged transverse crosssection taken 22 includes a pair of spaced parallel upright side members 24, 25 Ihaving a lower horizontal cross member 26 extending between the lower ends thereof and secured thereto by securing elements 27. Additional cross mem- :bers 28 and 29 are arranged parallel to the cross member 26 in vertically spacedrelation thereto and are secure to the side members 24, 25 by securing elements 30. Y An inverted V-shaped cross member 31 is secured to the other ends of the side members 24, 25 by securing elements 32. A base plate 33 is secured to the apex of the V-shapedcross member 31 by securing elements 34. A

along the line 5-5 of Figure 2A, looking inthe direction of the arrows, illustration. A v i Figure 6 is a semi-diagrammatic `illustration of the lower portion of the Ainvention illustrating the'ow of turbine driving water therethrough. K

. Figure`7 is a transverse horizontal cross-section ltaken along the line 7-'7 of Figure 3 looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Figure 8 is ari-enlarged side elevation of the surface with parts yomittedfor convenience of hook 35 carried by the cable 23 engages through an aperture 36 in the apex of the'cross member 31 so that the A frame 22 may be lifted by the cable 23.

r[ll-1e cross members 26, 2S, 29 and 31 each comprise spaced pairs secured to the opposite faces ofthe side members 24, 25. The cross member 29 has a pulley 37 journalled therebetween centrally thereof, and the cross member'28 has a pair of laterally spaced pulleys 38 journalfled therebetween in equispaced relation with respect to the center of the cross member 28.

portion of the invention, shown partly broken away and "f Y:

in sectionz for convenience of illustration.

Y Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse crosssection taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 8,'looking in the direction of the arrows."` Y p Figure l0 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse crosssection taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 8, looking in the'direction ofthe arrows. A Figure 1l is a transversehorizo'ntal cross-section taken along theline 11`-"-11 of Figure 2A, looking in the direciion of the arrows. i l' A lifting bar 39 extends'between the side members 24, 25 and has slots 40, 41 engaging about the side members 24, 25, as best illustrated in Figure l0. A cable 42 is trained over the pulleys 37, 38 and has links 43 secured to yits opposite ends and to the lifting bar 39, as best shown in Figure 8.

A weight scale 44 is connected in the cable 42 between the opposite ends thereof, for reasons to be assigned. Thus it can be seen that the lifting bar 39 is supported by the A frame 22 through the cable 42 and can move vertically with respect to the A frame 22 with its movement `being registered by the scale 44.

Drill tubing 45 is detachably connected centrally between the cross members 26 by means of an internally threaded collar 46 welded to the cross members 26.v A

packing gland 47 is secured to the upper end of the collar 46 and has a polished rod 48 extending vertically therethrough.

A jack screw 49 is detachably connected to the .upper end of the polished rod 48 .and `extends upwardly therefrom. .A jack nut 50 is Vjournalled to the lift bar 39 and is threadedly engaged with the jack .screw 49, as is shown in Figure 8.

The jack nut 50 includes a worm wheel 51 engaging with a worm gear 52 mounted on a shaft 53 .extending transversely of the lift bar 39. The shaft 53 is journalled to `the lift 'bar 39 and carries a worm wheel ,54 on its .outer end. A shaft 55 'is arranged in parallel relation .to the lift bar 39 and is journalled .thereto in bearings 56.

The shaft 55 has a hand wheel .57 at one tend thereof and `a worm gear 58 intermediate .thereof engaging the worm wheel 54 so that rotation of the hand wheel 57 will rotate the jack -nut 5.0 and move .the jack screw 49 vertically therein. A square shaft 59 is connected to the upper end of the jack screw -49 ,and .extends .axially thereof. The cross members 28 are provided `with .a block .60 secured therebetween and having a square vertical bore 61 formed therein.

A pair of generally U-shaped rectangular slide bearings 62, shown in Figure 9, are positioned in .the bore 61 and tightly engage Opposite sides .of the square shaft 59 to hold the shaft 59 against rotational movement while permitting vertical sliding movement thereof. -It can be readily seen that movement of the hand wheel 57 will vertically move the polished rod 48 with respect to the drill tubing 45.

The drill tubing 45 is provided with a fitting 63 for connection of a pump conduit 64 having a pressure gauge 465 connected thereto. A .pump 66 has its .outlet 67 connected to the pump conduit 64 and has an inlet 68' extending `to a water reservoir.

The .drill tubing 45 .extends through a cap .69 on the upper end of the well casing 21 and has an electronic vibration detector v70 arranged in encompassing relation thereto adjacent .the cap .69. The electronic vibration detector 70 has lead wires 71 .extending to a .conventional amplifier unit (not shown).

The drill tubing 45, referring to Figure 2, consists of a plurality of vertically coupled sections lextending into the well for the desired depth. A pump rod 72 is connected at its upper end tothe polished rod 48 and similarly comprises ,a plurality of vertically disposed coupled sections extending a distance equal to the length .of the -drill tubing 45.

A coupling 73 is connected to the lower end of the lowermost drill tubing section 4 5 and has a relatively short section of tubing 74 connected to the lower end thereof. The tubing 74 is internally threaded `at 75 at its upper .end and has a spider 76 threaded therein.

l 'A body 77 having a vertical bore 78 extending therethrough is threaded onto the lower end of the short section of tubing 74 and has a guide spider 79 arranged in the bore 78. A shaft, generally indicated at 80, has an `upper portion 81 connected to the pump rod 72 by a coupling 82. The portion 81 extends through the spider 76 and is slidably guided thereby.

An enlarged diameter portion 83 of the shaft 80 is integrally formed with the upper portion 81 and extends through the spider 79 which guides it for-vertical reciprocation. A washer -84 is engaged about the upper portion 81 of the shaft 80 in engagement with the upper end `of the enlarged portion 83.

A coil spring 85 encompasses the upper portion 81 of the shaft 80 engaging the spider 76 at its upper end and 4the washer 84 at its lower end normally biasing the shaft 80 downwardly with respect to the body 77.

The body 77 is externally .threaded at 86 and has a hollow guide lmember 87 threaded thereto in depending relation. Ihe hollow guide member87 has a vertical circular here 88 formed therein having a pair of oppositely posed rectangular slots 89, 90 extending radially outwardly therefrom. w

A second pair of vertically disposed rectangular slots 91, 92 are positioned intermediate the slots 89, 90, respectively, and extend radially outwardly from the bore 88. The rectangular slot 89 is provided with a vertically extending rectangular slot 93 having a width less than the rectangular slot 89 and extending lradially outwardly from the rectangular slot 89.

A transverse port 94 is positioned in the guide member 87 intermediate the upper and ylower ends thereof and extends radially therein opening `through .the rectangular slot 93. A plurality of stops 95 are positioned in the corners of the rectangular slots :89, 90 terminating at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the rectangular slots 89, 90.

An H -shaped guide block 96 is positioned in the guide member 87 for vertical sliding movement therein and is welded ,to the lower end of the enlarged .portion 83 .of [the shaft 80. The guide block 96 is limited in its movement downwardly ,in the guide member 87 by engagement ,thereof with the upper .ends of the stops 95 mentioned above. Webs 97, 98 extend radially outwardly fromtopposite sides of the guide block 96 extending to the rectangular vslots 91, 92, respectively, to assist in maintaining the .guide block 96 in aligned relation with respect to the guide member .87.

A valve plate 99 is slidably positioned in the slot 93 for closing the port 94. The valve plate 99 vhas a horizontal key 10.0 secured thereto adjacent the upper end thereof engaging in ya horizontal slot 101 yformed in one end of the .H -shaped guide block 96 so as to close the port `94 on upward movement of ythe guide block 96.

A coil spring 102 is seated in a .bore 103 in the guide block 96 and engages the valve plate 99 normally biasing the valve plate 99 into sealing .engagement with the port 94 when the valve plate 99 is in overlying relation to the port 94.

A short section of hollow tubing 104 is secured centrally ,of .the guide block 9.6 in .depending relation thereto in .axial alignment with the shaft 80. A bushing 105 is detachably secured to the lower end of the tubing '104 and has a valve stem 106 slidably supported therein. The .upper .end tof the valve stem 106 is threaded and has a pair .of Ilocking stop nuts 107 mounted thereon.

A coil spring 108 is positioned within the tubular section 104 engaging at one lend the guide block v96 and at the other end the nuts 107, as best shown in Figure 2. A conical valve 1.09 is carried on the lower end of the valve stem 106 below the bushing 105, for reasons to be assigned.

A cylindrical turbine body 110 is welded to the lower end of the guide member 87 in axial alignment therewith. The .turbine body 110 has a turbine bore 111 centrally arranged therethrough with a turbine 112 mounted for rotation therein.

A cylindrical housing 113 is mounted to the upper end of the turbine body 110 by means of bolts 114 and projectsdownwardly into Ythe turbine bore 111. Deflection vanes 115 are carried Iby vthe housing 113 to channel the water to the turbine 112. 'I'he housing 113 has a seat 116 formed on its upper end which is engaged by .the valve 109 to interrupt the flow of water through the deection .vanes 115 to the turbine 112.

The lower end of the turbine body 110, referring now to Figure 2A, is provided with a chamber 117 having oppositely disposed access plugs 118. A bore 119 extends vertically through the turbine body 110 in offset relation to the turbine bore 111.

A shaft -120 extends vertically through the bore 119 and has its upper end threaded into the guide vblock 96 for vertical sliding movement therewith. A sealing O ring 121 encompasses the shaft 120 above the chamber 117 and is -supportedon a tubular bushing 122.

A threaded sealing bushing 123 encompasses the vshaft 120-and is threaded through the lower end of the turbine body 110, sealing the shaft 120 lwith relation to the chamber 117 and holding the'tubular` bushing 122 in engagement with the O ring 121 to seal the bore 119 from the chamber 117. Y The chamber 117 is provided with a'plurality of ports 124 opening through the bottom thereof. y

`A` shaft125 extends downwardly from the turbine y112 through the bottom of the turbine body 110 and is jour'- nalled in a sealing journal bearing 126 secured to the lower end of the turbine body 110, as can be seen in Figure 2A.

A tubular casing 127 is welded to the lower end of the turbine -body 110 and extends downwardly therefrom in axial'alignment therewith. The casing 127 has the opposite sides thereof vertically slotted at 128 from av point adjacent the turbine body 110 to a point adjacent the lower end 129 of the casing 127.

A pair of parallel plates 130 extend in spaced relation from one slot 128 totheother slot 128 across the casing 127 from the turbine body 110 to the lower extremity of the slots 128 forming a pair of conduit chambers 131. The plates 130 are connected at their lower ends by a transverse plate 132 to form a chamber 133 connecting thetwo conduits. 131 adjacent the lower end 129 of the casing 127.

A threaded outlet 134 opens through the bottom 129 of the casing 127 and communicates with the chamber 133. An outlet fitting 135 (Figure 6) may be secured in the threaded opening-134 to maintain the bottom 129 of the casing 127 spaced from the .bottom of the well so that the threaded opening 134 will remain open. A bearing block 136, referring now to Figures and 12, extends between the plate 130 and the casing 127 dividing the conduit 131 in half. The bearing block 136 is arranged adjacent the upper end of the casing 127. Sealing plates 137 are arranged to extend between the (casing 127 and the plate.1430 to' sealy the chamber 131 around the bearing 136.

A second bearing block 138 is arranged oppositely of the bearing block 136' between the plate 130 and the casing 127. Sealing plates 137 divide the chamber 131 in half and have a mounting plate 139 welded therebetween. The bearing block 138 is. detachably secured to the'mounting plate'139;

A shaft'l140 extends horizontally of the casing 127 Vand hasits' opposit'e'endsjoulnalled in thebearing blocks 136, 138. A second Vshaft`141 is positioned in spaced parallel relation below' the shaft 140 and similarly has its'opposite ends journalled in the bearing blocks 136, 138.

A bevel gear 142, see Figure 3, is carried on the shaft 140 and engages a bevel gear 143 mounted on the lower end of the shaft 144 extending upwardly therefrom. A universal joint 145 connects the shaft 144 at its upper end to the lower end of the shaft 125, as can be seen in Figure 2A.

A mounting plate 146, Figure 2A, is welded between the plates 130 and has a bearing bracket 147 secured thereto by bolts 148. Bearings 149 are carried at opposite ends of the bearing bracket 147 in vertically aligned relation with the shaft 144 journalled therein.

A pair of vertical guides 150, see Figure 13, are secured to the plates 130 adjacent one of the slots 128 and have vertical slots 151 arranged in opposed relation therein. A cylindrical body 152 is arranged between the guides 150 and has oppositely disposed webs 153 secured thereto and slidably arranged in the slots 151 of the guides 150. The tubular body 152, Figure 2A, has a reduced diameter bore 154 in its upper end through which the shaft 120 extends.

A head 155 is detachably secured to the lower end of the shaft 120 and is mounted for reciprocation in the bore 156 of the tubular body 152. A coil spring 157 engages between the upper end of the tubular body 152 and the head 155 While a second coil spring 158 engages between thelower'end of the tubular body 152 and the head to-normally maintain the head 155 in a vertical` A drive chain is trained over the sprockets 163,

164 so that the shaft 141 will be driven by the shaft 140.` A chain saw sprocket 166 is secured to the shaft 141 intermediate the opposite ends thereof, for reasons to be assigned.

A pair of plates 167 are arranged in spaced parallel relation below the shaft 141 and are provided with lower bearing halves 168 which engage the shaft 141 and have bearing caps 169 detachably secured thereto in overlying relation to the shaft 141. The plates 167 through their bearing half 168 and bearing cap 169 are journalled to theshaft141 and can pivot thereon.

The inner face of each of the plates 167 rare provided with inwardly offset portions 170, as best seen in Figures 5 and 12 and have a blade 171 mounted therebetween by securing elements 172. The blade 171 is peripherally slotted at 173 to receive the cutting chain 174 of a chain saw. The cutting Vchain 174 is trained over the .chain saw sprocket 166 and is driven thereby.

Av bar 175 extends across the slot 128 adjacent the plates 167 for engagement with the plates 167 when in their horizontal position extending downwardly below the shaft 141. A pair of stop members 176 are carried by the plates 167 adjacent the upper edge thereof for engagement with a second pair of stop members 177 carried on the plates 130 to limit the pivotal movement of the plates 167 with respect to the casing 127.

. The lower ends of the yoke members 160 are respec-l tively connectedpto the plates 167 by pivot bolts 178 so that upon vertical movement of the shaft 120 the tubular A'conduit 179, ksee Figure 2A, is threadedly engaged;

to the lower end of the turbine body 110 communicating with the chamber 11'7. The conduit 179 is secured to the mounting plate 146 by clamps 180 and has the lower end 181 thereof curved inwardly and terminating slightly above the upper end of the chain saw 174. Water discharging from the turbine 112 will have a portion thereof passing through the conduit 179 and outwardly through the curved lower end 181 thereof impinging against the chain saw 174 to assist in removing cuttings caught in the teeth thereof.

In the use and operation of the invention, the guide member 87, turbine body 118, and casing 127, are lowered into the well by adding well tubing 45 and pump rod 72 in sections until the required depth is reached. The pump 66 is then energized and the Well is filled with water which passes downwardly through the well tubing 45 into the guide member 87 and out through the port 94.

After the well has been filled with water and it is desired to cut a slot in the oil bearing roc'k, the hand wheel 57 is rotated to raise the jack screw 49 and the pump rods 72 so as to cause the valve plate 99 to close the port 94 upon movement of the guide block 96 and to lift the valve 109 from the valve seat 116. As the valve 109 is lifted from the valve seat 116, water passes through the deflection vanes 115 and through the turbine 112.

The water exhausted from vthe turbine 1'12 passes into the chamber 1'17 and out therefrom -through Iports "124 into the conduits Y131 with a portion `ofit passing through the conduit 179. The -water vpassing through the conduits 131 moves into the chamber 133 and out through 4the threaded port ,134 in the lower end i129 of the casing 127 into the well passing upwardly therethrough, `and finally out through the pipe 182 connected to the-casing 2i adjacent the upper end thereof. Water passing through the turbine 112 turns the shaft 125, and through the universal joint 145 the shaft 144.

Bevel gears 142, 143 drive the shaft 140, and through the sprocket chain 165 `the shaft 141to rotate the chain sprocket 166, and hence to move the chain saw 174. Continued upward movement of the guide block 96 moves the shaft 120, and through the yokes 160 pivots the saw blade 171 outwardly about the shaft 141 so that the chain teeth 174 engage and cut the rock formation of the well.

Thesprings 157, 158 resiliently mount ythe tubular body 152 `onto the shaft 120 so that movement of the shaft 120` can exceed the movement of the body 152 and the saw blade 171 will move into thecut under spring tension as fast as the cut takes place. Similarly, movement of the shaft 120 downwardly with the saw blade 171 jammed in the cut will create a spring .tension in the direction of removal of the saw blade 171 from the work without damage to fthe .operating linkage.

The weighing scale 44 is used to determine the position of the valve 109 and the valve plate 99, since as the valve 109 engages the valve seat 116, a portion of the weight on the scale 44 will be removed. The same position will be one in which the valve plate 99 uncovers the port 94, as is shown in Figure 2.

The load condition on the saw chain 174 and the cutting conditions in the well can be determined by the vibration detector 70 with the proper amplifying apparatus (not shown) connected to the wiring 7.1. The pressure gauge 65 registers the pressure of the water within the well and is useful in determining the position of the valves 109 and the valve plate 99, as well as any stoppage or 'leakage which may have developed.

When it is desired to cut an elongated slot in the formation below the casing 21, the A frame 22 can be raised while the saw blade 171 is in its extended position and moving, driven by the turbine 112 so that Vthe slots can be elongated vertically to any desired degree. If more than a single slot is to be cut Vin the well forma- `8 tion, then the A lframe 22 is rotated With'the saw blade 17-1in its vertical position until anew position is reached and another radial slot is then cut.

As can be seen, a number of radial slots can be cut to improve the operating 4conditions of a secondary well.

Having thus described lthe preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from 'the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A deep well chain saw -comprising an elongated body, a horizontal shaft journalled in said body, a chain saw blade journalled on said shaft in depending relation thereto for pivotal movement outwardly of said body, a chain saw mounted on said chain saw blade, a drive sprocket iixed to said shaft and meshing with said chain saw, la turbine mounted in said elongated body and connected to said drive sprocket for driving said chain saw on said chain saw lblade, a conduit extending to said turbine for conducting water under pressure thereto, a valve selectively closing said conduit for controlling the supply of `water to said turbine, means connected to said saw blade for pivoting said Asaw blade on said shaft for moving the lower end portion of said saw blade outwardly of said body to bring said chain saw into contact with the wall of the well, and means connected to said saw blade moving means and said valve to simultaneously open said valve to permit said turbine to drive said chain saw and `pivotally move said saw blade out of said body.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said saw blade pivotal moving means includes a resilient linkage for moving said saw blade under spring bias.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided on said body for hydraulically cleaning cuttings from said chain saw.

4. A device as claimed in claim '1 wherein hand actuated means are provided connected to and controlling the movement of said valve and said saw blade.

References -Cited in the file of this patent UNITED vSTATES PATENTS 1,406,349 Corrigan Feb. 14, 1922 2,134,164 Holt Oct. 25, 1938 2,178,553 Bowie Nov. 7, 1939 2,178,554 Bowie Nov. 7, 1939 2,322,146 Kuhn June 1'5, 1943 

